Mathematical game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mathematical game apparatus comprised of a panel having consecutive numerals disposed thereon, and further including a plurality of removable masks for obscuring selective consecutive ones of the numerals. A plurality of groups of predetermined numbers are included in the apparatus, so that one may select any one numeral appearing on the panel, and another player can determine the selected numeral by placing one or more certain mask corresponding to certain groups onto the panel so as to obscure consecutive numerals thereon. The last obscured numeral is the selected numeral.

United States Patent Vann [54] MATHEMATICAL GAME APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Roy R. Vann, 3302 Providence Drive, Midland, Tex. 79701 [22] Filed: March 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 122,900

[52] US. Cl ..273/l61 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63I 9/18 [58] Field of Search...273/l53 R, 161, 136 G; 35/30, 35/31 C,3l D, 31 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,341 3/1941 Goldner ..273/ 161 3,083,020 3/1963 Terschak ..273/ 136 G 3,355,821 12/ 1967 Buenger ..35/30 840,144 1/1907 Lincoln ..273/ 161 1,506,015 8/ 1924 Loyd ..273/ 161 [451 Aug. 29, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 27,349 0/ 1908 Great Britain ..273/ 153 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Marcus L. Bates [571 ABSTRACT A mathematical game apparatus comprised of a panel having consecutive numerals disposed thereon, and further including a plurality of removable masks for obscuring selective consecutive ones of the numerals. A plurality of groups of predetermined numbers are included in the apparatus, so that one may select any one numeral appearing on the panel, and another player can determine the selected numeral by placing one or more certain mask corresponding to certain groups onto the panel so as to obscure consecutive numerals thereon. The last obscured numeral is the selected numeral.

7Claims,8Dra'wingI-igures MATHEMATICAL GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various mathematical game devices have been proposed in the prior art, as for example the apparatus of Loyd, U.S. Pat. No. 1,506,015 and Enfants, U.S. Pat. No. 1,666,641, to which reference is made for further background of the invention. Most of the game devices of the prior art are extremely complex in operation and difficult to comprehend, and accordingly, games of this nature have never gained popularity with many persons because the players rapidly tire when they attempt to comprehend the complex instructions of the game.

It is desirable to provide a mathematical game device which is uncomplicated, interesting to play, inexpensive to fabricate, and which offers means for increasing ones knowledge and agility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprehends a game device which is preferably embodied in a square or rectangular panel, wherein the panel has means forming indicia thereon, with the indicia being in the form of consecutive numerals. A plurality of masks are included for placement on the panel to obscure certain series of adjacent or consecutive indicia. Groups of predetermined indicia are arranged with the indicia of the first group being related to numeral combinations made possible by placing a first of the masks onto the panel, together with all other combinations of numerals which may be obtained from the panel by placement of all possible combinations of the remaining masks with the first mask. The second group of numerals relates to all possible combinations of numerals obtainable by using the second of the masks in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining masks, and so on.

Accordingly, it is evident that the total number of consecutive numerals employed in the game depends upon the number of masks employed, which in turn determines the number of groups which must be incorporated into the game.

In playing the game, any one numeral can be selected from the panel by a first person, whereupon the numeral can be discovered by a second person by covering consecutive numerals with the various panels which relate to groups which contains the numeral to be found.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simple mathematics game device. A

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mathematics game device playable by two or more persons, and which requires manual manipulation of various members in order to determine a specific numeral selected from a panel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mathematics game device wherein a number selected from the game board can be discovered by manipulation of various of a plurality of masks.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an interesting, inexpensive, compact game device which is mentally stimulating and educational.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of apparatus fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a portion of the apparatus seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary representation of a portion of the game device seen in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views of part of the apparatus seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 discloses a modification of part of the fore going game apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In FIG. 1 there is seen the preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally illustrated by the arrow at numeral 9, in which a first panel 10 is disposed at an angle with respect to a second panel 12, with the panels being hinged together along edge portion 14. The apparatus is supported by the lowermost edge portions 15 and 16. Panel 10 includes a lower ledge member at 17 which bottom supports a plurality of masks which are stacked as generally illustrated at 18.

A box 19, preferably fabricated of plastic or other similar transparent material, has at least one outwardly opening 20, and may optionally be provided with an outwardly directed transparent window 21, if desired. The rear 22, or bottom of the box, may also be the surface of the panel 10, if desired. A card 23 is disposed on and supported by the rear wall 22, and includes means forming indicia thereon related to a plurality of vertically aligned rows of consecutive numerals, with the numerals being disposed in parallel vertical columns 24. The indicia could appear directly on the face of the panel, if desired.

For purposes of illustrating the invention, six columns of figures each having 32 consecutive numerals therein are shown, with the six columns of series arranged numerals including all of the numbers from ltol92.

A plurality of masks, which may be in the form of individual wooden blocks 25-31 are each inscribed or otherwise provided with indicia identifying the blocks as No. 1 through No. 8.

Block No. 1, when superimposed upon the chart of FIG. 3, completely covers all of the numerals l through 128. Block No. 2 is of the same length as N0. 5; block No. 7 is one-half the length of block No. 6; and block No. 8 is one-half the length of block No. 7 and covers only a single numeral of a single column.

The transparent box 19 can be provided with five sides, with the card 23 being removably disposed therein, with the indicia thereof being placed on the outwardly facing side 24, and with the box being of a size to admit the blocks, as vfor example, block 27,

which is freely and slidably received therein.

Where deemed desirable, each vof the blocks or masks may be provided with a cut-out 34 or 134 in a marginal depending end thereof so as'to disclose the number lying under the upper extremity thereof.

The eight groups of predetermined numerals are set forth as follows: 4

Group One (1) Group Two (2) Group Three (3) Group Four (4) Group Five (5) Group Six (6) Group Seven (7) Group Eight (8) The above eight groups of numerals (or other predetermined like groups) are an essential component of the game. The squares marked 1 through 8 of FIG. 1 represent the eight groups of numerals and illustrate one possible arrangement of panel 12.

OPERATION asks the first player if the selected numeral is in group 1. IF the chosen numeral is present in .group 1, then mask or block No. l, which covers all of the numerals 1 through 128, must be placed within box 19. Should the numeral selected be absent from group 1, then block No. 1 is not placed within the box, and the manipulator inquires if the selected numeral is contained in group 2. If the first player afiirms that the selected numeral is present in group 2, then block No. 2 must be inserted into box 19, thereby covering all of the numerals l through 64.

The game continues in this manner with a particular block corresponding to a particular group being placed within the box in the manner as exemplified in FIG. 4, for example. The numeral the first player secretly selectedand which the manipulator is to find" is the last numeral covered by the last block inserted into the box.

In FIG. 4 for example, the numeral which was unknown to the manipulator or second player, was found to be 84. Since'numeral 84 is present in groups 2, 4, and 6, then masks or blocks No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6 are placed in the illustrated manner so as to cover all of the consecutive numbers 1 through 84, and to enable the manipulator to discover the unknown number selected by the first player.

Those skilled in the art will now realize that the numbers of group 1 include all of the various combinations obtainable by placing block No. 1 on the chart 23, and then placing all various combinations of the remaining seven blocks thereon.

The numbers represented in group 2 are all possible numbers obtainable by placing block No. 2 onto the chart 23, together with all possible combinations of the remaining blocks. The remaining groups are found in a similar manner.

It is within the comprehension of this invention to utilize magnets or Velcro type attachment material for securing various configurations of masks to various 7 types of background associated with the panel.

Moreover, the blocks need not be square as indicated in the drawing. The various masks or blocks may be flat rectangular transparent plastic tinted with selected colors. The actual construction of box 19 can take on several different forms, for example, three sides forming a U, if desired.

I claim:

1. Mathematics game apparatus comprising-a panel, a plurality of masks, means forming first indicia on said panel, said first indicia being in the form of consecutive numerals with the numerals being arranged in a plurality of rows;

means forming indicia related to a plurality of groups of predetermined numbers; each of said consecutive numerals appearing at least one time'in one of said groups;

each of said masks, when superimposed upon said consecutive numerals, obscures a pre-determined number of said consecutive numerals; and indicates thereby the number which is one greater than the last obscured consecutive numeral; and indicates thereby the number which is one greater than the last obscured consecutivenumeral each of said masks being of an area relative to one another whereby the largest mask covers twice the numerals as compared to the next smaller in area mask, and the smallest in size mask covers one half the number of numerals as does the next closest but larger size mask;

means relating each of said masks to a respective one of said groups; v

a first of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals alone, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks;

a second of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals along, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks;

and a last of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals alone, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks; whereby:

one can select any one of said consecutive numerals, and another can ascertain the selected numeral by imposing each of the masks on the consecutive numerals which contains the selected numeral in the group corresponding to the mask.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said panel includes means forming a box, said consecutive numerals being placed on a wall of said box;

said box being of a size to receive a plurality of the masks therein.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein said panel has indicia related to each of the groups displayed thereon.

4. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said panel includes means forming a box, means forming indicia related to said consecutive numerals being placed on a M wall of said box;

lOlOSl 05W- 6. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masks each area flat rectangular body of transparent plastic.

7. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein there is provided means forming a cut-out formed in one extremity of a mask to enable a numeral to be displayed through the cut-out when the mask is superimposed upon the consecutive numerals. 

1. Mathematics game apparatus comprising a panel, a plurality of masks, means forming first indicia on said panel, said first indicia being in the form of consecutive numerals with the numerals being arranged in a plurality of rows; means forming indicia related to a plurality of groups of predetermined numbers; each of said consecutive numerals appearing at least one time in one of said groups; each of said masks, when superimposed upon said consecutive numerals, oBscures a pre-determined number of said consecutive numerals and indicates thereby the number which is one greater than the last obscured consecutive numeral; each of said masks being of an area relative to one another whereby the largest mask covers twice the numerals as compared to the next smaller in area mask, and the smallest in size mask covers one half the number of numerals as does the next closest but larger size mask; means relating each of said masks to a respective one of said groups; a first of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals alone, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks; a second of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals alone, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks; and a last of said groups including each of said consecutive numerals which can be indicated by placing the related one of said masks over said consecutive numerals alone, or in conjunction with all possible combinations of the remaining said masks; whereby: one can select any one of said consecutive numerals, and another can ascertain the selected numeral by imposing each of the masks on the consecutive numerals which contains the selected numeral in the group corresponding to the mask.
 2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said panel includes means forming a box, said consecutive numerals being placed on a wall of said box; said box being of a size to receive a plurality of the masks therein.
 3. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein said panel has indicia related to each of the groups displayed thereon.
 4. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said panel includes means forming a box, means forming indicia related to said consecutive numerals being placed on a wall of said box; said box being of a size to receive a plurality of the masks therein; said panel has means forming indicia related to each of the groups displayed thereon; said panel having means forming a hinge along a portion thereof so as to enable one portion of the panel to be folded back upon the remaining portion of the panel.
 5. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masks are each made into elongated rectangular bodies.
 6. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said masks each are a flat rectangular body of transparent plastic.
 7. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein there is provided means forming a cut-out formed in one extremity of a mask to enable a numeral to be displayed through the cut-out when the mask is superimposed upon the consecutive numerals. 